NECESSITY OF RESEARCH IN YOGA AND

NATUROPATHY

—Prof. (Dr.)Sohan Raj Tater

Pro Vice Chancellor, Singhania University

Yoga : an art of living

Yoga is a science as well as an art of healthy living. It is no way
limited by race, age, sex, religion, caste, creed and any other boundaries and
can be practiced by those who seek an education on better living and those
who want to have a more meaningful life. Yoga is the surest way of
complete health. Yoga is the science of life and the art of living. It is
India's oldest scientific, perfect spiritual discipline. Yoga is a method of
training the mind and body for discovering spiritual truths. Yoga is science
of life, it offers us simple, easy remedies, techniques and methods of health
and hygiene to assure physical and mental fitness with a minimum of time,
effort and expense. Yoga is neither a sect nor an ideology but a practical
training of mind and body. Yoga is also a technique for achieving purest
form of self-awareness, devoid of all thoughts.
Integral Yoga equips us with the right tools to handle life's
uncertainties in a remarkable calm manner. It is nothing mystical-just a
practical and scientific guide to an improved way of life. It is the science that
harmonizes the mind body connection most effectively. It is a power tool for
facing life's challenges with an attitude that will delight us. It has four major
tools which are well meshed into one another :
(i) Postures (Asanas) for physical exercise.
(ii) Meditation for mind exercise.
(iii) Breathing (Pranayam) for channeling energy correctly.
(iv) Deep relaxation.
Naturopathy is a philosophy of balancing the energy system of the body-
physical, emotional and spiritual using the natural methods, prevents stress
and distress on the organs and promotes overall well-being and rejuvenation.

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 It is the demand of present time to execute more and more research in
Yoga and Naturopathy with modern scientific instruments and observations
to take maximum benefit of these sciences devoting limited time due to very
busy human life style of modern age.

Yoga : a miracle to human body

At the physical level yoga and its cleansing practices have proven to
be extremely effective for various disorders. Yoga is beneficial as follow :
(a) Increasing flexibility
Yoga has position that act upon the various joints of the body
including those joints that are never really on the "radar screen" let alone
exercised.
(b) Increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons
The well researched yoga positions exercise the different tendons and
ligaments of the body. Surprisingly it has been found that the body which
may have been quite rigid starts experiencing a remarkable flexibility in
even those parts which have not been consciously work upon.
(c) Massaging of all organs of the body
Yoga is perhaps the only form of activity which massages all the
internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those
such as prostate-that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire
lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This
stimulation and massage of the organs in turn benefits us by keeping away
disease and providing a forewarning at the first possible instance of a likely
onset of disease or disorder. One of the far-reaching benefits of yoga is the
uncanny sense of awareness that it develops in the practioner of an
impending health disorder or infection. This in turn enables the person to
take pre-emptive corrective action .
(d) Complete detoxification
By gentle stretching muscles and joints as well as massaging the
various organs, yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of
the body. This helps in flushing out of toxins from every nook and cranny as
well as delayed ageing, energy and remarkable zest of life.

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(e) Excellent toning of the muscles
Muscles that have become flaccid, week or slothy are stimulated
separately to shed excess flab and flaccidity.
Universities and Yoga N.G.O.s’ must conduct deep research in Yoga
and Naturopathy practically on diseased and frustrated persons to make
these pathies as popular as allopathy.

Necessity of expert training and research in Yoga Therapy

Most of the Asans and Pranayam are classified as if they are for
particular physical or mental problems. For example matsyendrasan Asana is
good for a diabetic patient or savasana is good for controlling high blood
pressure. As a matter of fact, only Asanas or Pranayam is not going to help if
it is done in a mechanical pattern or form. There are other factors, which are
playing a major role in recovery process. The yoga therapist must and should
impart the technology and philosophy of this science while providing the
training to their patients. The traditional poses are not at all suitable to the
needs of the men of this age where our life style is completely different from
those of the old days. It is more important to teach and research more
simplified versions as yoga is non-specific when it comes to effective and
positive results, especially if other factors are not incorporated, for example,
diet, routine, positive attitude, openness to accept the changes and learning
new healthy habits etc. These other factors are :
(i) Awareness
A person who is practicing yoga as a therapy must understand the
reason for this practice. It is not important that the pose should be perfect in
order to get its benefit but more important is the awareness of the body and
attitude.
(ii) Concept
The concept of pose and Pranayam must be explained and should be
vary clear before its practice. The scientific explanation and deep research is
a must.

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(iii) Commitment
There has to be a commitment from both the sides-the therapist and
the practioner. There must be a mutual understanding that one is there to
explain, teach and execute research and the other is these to learn, recover
and gain.
(iv) Dedication
Quite often people are taking up yoga as an experiment. Sometime
when all other doors are closed, people come to yoga practice and expect a
miracle or instance change or recovery. Just as there is a big difference in
allopathic medicines and herbal medicines, likewise there is a big difference
between other holistic physical training and yoga. Once the person feels
some positive results, he has to practice on a regular basis as a routine. Once
a weak, one hour practice is not going to help.
(v) Trust and faith
Just as a patient trusts his doctor or any other health practioner, in the
same way there has to be a faith and trust in whatever the patient is
practicing during yoga therapeutic sessions. It is very important that a good
relation is maintained during the treatment and follow up sessions.
(vi) Attitude
Often, people who believe in other faiths or religions are not ready for
certain yoga practices when it comes to the philosophy and devotional
practices for relaxation and meditation. The attitude is that "I want to learn
yoga but I do not want to learn philosophy, I am here to learn only poses and
breathing." In other words, "I want to learn swimming but without getting
wet. It is very important far a therapist to provide the scientific explanations
with deep research and spiritual support. All yoga practices are based on the
laws of the nature. It is very true that the science of yoga was developed in
India and majority of Hindu people practice that. The base of Hinduism,
Jainism and Buddhism is faith-but as a way of life. All Hindu, Buddhist and
Jains scriptures and literature are explaining yoga. One has to have some sort
of knowledge of Bhagwat Gita, Preksha Dhyan, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Health
Yoga Pradipika and such texts.
Here the intention is not to teach the religion but the philosophy
behind the practice. If certain techniques and research are practiced with a

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certain attitude then it helps, more than a mechanical practice e.g. chanting
of OM as an universal sound. Many attitudes are cultivated while practicing
any pose. Each and every move can provide a space to learn a certain
attitude if explained and developed during its regular practice. It could be
from gross to the subtlest level, that will help the practioner in the long run
to change his life style and in cultivating healthy habits.
Central and State Governments should start research programs of
Yoga and Naturopathy from school level to college level and up to
University level to make it quite common way of living disease free natural
life.

Attainment of good health through Yoga positions (Asanas)

Yoga poses have ban developed over centuries of research and
experience. They have been found to be extremely effective. We should
adopt yoga positions and preferably yoga routine in our life. Yoga results in
huge benefit in terms of :
(i) Correcting metabolic disorders.
(ii) Overcoming stress and mind behaviours that seem beyond our
control.
(iii) Changing firmly entrenched attitudes or personality disorders.
Integral yoga ensures all round personality and health
development by concentrating on yoga positions, meditation,
pranayam techniques and body cleansing methods.
Yoga has simple and effective body movements that strengthen our
back, firm the stomach and redistribute body weight. Yoga exercises stretch
and tone the body muscles. To increase endurance and improve flexibility,
yoga asanas or positions are the best among all exercises for toning muscles,
lubricating joints and massaging the body. Yoga postures bring physical as
well as mental stability. These asanas were developed thousands of years
ago and have evolved over centuries. They work wonders in keeping the
body healthy and the mind peaceful. Asanas exercise the nerves, glands,
ligaments and muscles. In other words, yoga exercises are the most
comprehensive method of self care. Although the asanas are very powerful,
the effect becomes dramatic when they are done with the right way. The

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mind must be in harmony with the body movements, for this it is essential to
equip overselves with the other tool of Integral Yoga.
We must always begin with simple poses and gradually overtime
move towards the complex ones. It is not as if maximum benefits cannot be
achieved with simple positions. Quite contrary, maximum benefits would be
achieved by what is "acceptable" to our body. To achieve the maximum
benefits of yoga, a specific yoga routine must be developed by first basic
positions to free various rigid joints and get the mind in suitable mode. Only
then we should be moving to these positions. The process of yoga is just as
important as the result.

Health Management through Preksha Dhyan

The main purpose of the practice of Preksha Dhyan is to purify the
mental states. Mind is constantly choked by contaminating urges, emotions
and passions. This hampers the flow of wisdom. The hurdles of
uncleanliness must first be removed. When the mind is cleaned, peace of
mind automatically surfaces. Balance of mind, equanimity and the state of
well being are also experienced simultaneously.
It should always be remembered that the ultimate aim of sadhana is
purity and equanimity-freedom from contamination of passions. The state of
well-being is not our ultimate aim ; it will inevitably ensure ; nevertheless it
is not the objective.
Similarly peacefulness is also a secondary benefit and will always be
achieved, but not the aim. We have to transcend both these mental states to
reach our ultimate purpose, viz. total purity of mind and goodness. Preksha
Dhyan is an uncomplicated, easy to learn technique of meditation. It is
comprised of the following :
(i) Kayotsarga (Total relaxation)
(ii) Antaryatra (Internal trip)
(iii) Swash Preksha (Perception of breathing)
(iv) Sharir Preksha (Perception of body)
(v) Chaitnya kendra Preksha (Perception of psychic centres)
(vi) Lesya Dhyan (Perception of Psychic colours)
(vii) Bhavana (Auto-suggestion)

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 (viii) Anupreksha (contemplation)
We live in the age of tensions and because we are confronted with
more and more situations that produce stress, increasing numbers of people
at younger ages are suffering from hypertension which results in high blood
pressures, heart attacks and premature deaths. Our most pernicious anxiety
involves common problems of daily life such as the daily commute in a
congested city, rising cost of living, unabating shortages of daily necessities,
polluted air and water. These and many other insoluble difficulties appear to
have been built into out daily life. Bodily movements, speech and mental
functions are three fold activities of every organism. One of the facets of
meditational practice is reduction or total cessation of each of these
activities. Three types of meditational practices over them thus ensure from
the trinity of these activities. As per prominent Jainacharya Mahapragya
inventor of Preksha Dhyan total health consists of physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual health.

Achievement of good health through Naturopathy

(I) Cure of Heart disease by Naturopathy
Millions of people in the world suffer from the diseases of the heart
and blood vessels. The heart which is muscular pump, keeps the blood
circulation continuous. But when there is a break down of this complicated
mechanism, blood supply to a part of the body may be affected leading to
what is known as heart attack. But with naturopathy the following
cardiovascular diseases can be cured :
Coronary Thrombosis-sudden blocking of one of the arteries.
Arteriosclerosis-hardening of arteries.
Degenerative heart disease-gradual decay of blood vessels due to
excessive smoking of tobacco. Hypertensive Heart disease-straining
of blood vessels due to high blood pressure. This leads to hardening of
blood vessels, hence diminishing the supply of blood.
High blood pressure (Hypertension)-Blood pressure remains high
leading to disorder like lack of strength, bad temper, visionary
troubles, tiredness, headache, coldness of hands and feet.

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Nature cure
• Routine-Mudpack
• Specific—full massage (reverse direction), neutral spinal spray, ice
massage to spine.
(II) Diabetes
Diabetes a very old disease, has a common feature-excessive
accumulation of sugar in blood, due to malfunctioning of pancreas. The
general prevalent method of treating the diabetic patient is to inject insulin to
compensate what could be produced by the pancreas. The yogic treatment
restores the normal functioning of the pancreas and other endocrine glands.
The chemistry of the body becomes normal leading to a healthy body.

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Nature cure
• Routine-Enema, mudpack
• Specific-full massage, partial massage to abdomen, cold abdomen
pack, cold hip bath.
(III) Cancer
Cancer has affected millions in the entire world. It is the fobia of the
disease which causes more suffering than the caner itself. In cancer, floating
starved non-functional cells group together and manifest themselves as
toumers, ulcers and cancer.
Nature cure
• Routine-Enema, mudpack, cold spinal spray/bath, wheat grass
juice therapy, grape diet.
• Specific-full massage, steam bath, under water massage, cold
circular jet.
(IV) Obesity
Obesity is becoming a common health hazard and leads to many other
diseases like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes,
psychosomatic disorders and a shorten life span. The main cause of obesity
is excessive eating. The best method to control weight is to reduce the
intake of protein, carbohydrates and fat and increase the supply of mineral
and vitamins and also increase exercises.
Nature cure
This method of cure involves body purification. The method lightens
the body and makes it free from toxins and morbid matter which in turn
results in problem free weight loss. The procedures are :
Full body dry friction-for 10 minutes daily.
Enema (colon irrigation)-with Luke warm water, alternate days.
Steam bath-20 minutes, twice in a week.
Hot foot bath-20 minutes, 5 days per week.

Heath Management through chakras—centres of consciousness

Level-I of Amrit Yoga-chakra 1 to 4
A primary focus of Amrit Yoga is to build heat by charging battery of
the body, which is based in the lower three centres. As this energy is aroused

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and consciously directed from the lower chakras to the upper ones, our
biological prana awakens to its evolutionary potential. Awakened prana,
called kundalini, carries out healing and cleansing at an accelerated level
resulting in the purification of the nerve channels in the body as well as
cleansing kriyas-all of which prepare he body for accelerated spiritual
development.
(i) Muladhara chakra (Roots, alignment, Earth)
Muladhara is the body in physical space and time, developing
grounded ness, stability and foundation. In Amrit Yoga, the attention is on
alignment in all poses, building awareness and strength in the legs especially
all standing poses. Anything that stabilizes and roots the foundation
reinforces muladhara.
(ii) Swadhisthana chakra (sensation, flow, Water)
In swadhisthana chakra we become aware of the senses, sensation
(pleasure/pain) and emotions that accompany each pose. We allow our
awareness of ecstatic energy to build in the second half of the pose.
Suggested poses include pigeon, bridge and the spinal twist.
(iii) Manipura chakra (flower, Fire)
In manipura, our fire (spiritual heat) is stimulated. We "jump-start"
the battery of the body, the physical storehouse of energy, through strong
standing poses like the warrior. The willful aspect of the practice is also
associated with chakra three. Here we are building the battery in the belly
and then consciously directing that energy upward. This is an essential part
of conscious generation and directing of energy is necessary for prana to
awaken and move upward to higher centres.
(iv) Anahat chakra (Awakening to the spiritual path)
In Anahat, we are asked to open the heart. This requires spiritual
commitment to let the ego drop away. In Amrit Yoga the heart energy is
engaged with the use of the arms, with mudras, giving and receiving
movements, some heart opening poses can be camel, yoga mudra, cobra,
half locust (opens arms and heart meridians) Breath and the forth chakra are
closely connected (lungs).

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 Level-II of Amrit Yoga (chakra 5 to 7)
(v) Visuddhi chakra (Internal/external)—the power of sound vibration
Visuddha chakra is more apparent in Level II of Amrit Yoga, but also
in level I—we turn into vibration of prana that sources the movement. Use
sound vibration when in the pose and the power of our word (opening
intention and om) to create the vibration field we intend. Become aware of
our own inner dialogue and if it serves us or not. In Amrit yoga the throat
chakra may be stimulated through chanting, bridge, camel and shoulder
stand postures.
(vi) Ajna chakra—the third eye
Meditation, witness, meditative, awareness pratyahar, deep absorption
without choosing for or against what is present in Ajna chakra. In the second
half of the pose and third eye integration-consciously allow energies to grow
with meditative attention and draw freed energies upwards toward the third
eye for integration. All forward bending poses where the head is lower than
the heart brings attention and energy to the third eye (child, yoga mudra,
wide angle forward bend)
(vii) Sahasrar chakra (silence)
In the sahasrar, the elixir of Amrita comes through silencing the
fluctuations of the mind. This is the entry into the bliss body which can
happen in the second half of the pose, in third eye meditation integration or
in any pose. All these practices of Amrit Yoga are intended to reach the final
point of stilling the modifications of the mind, which is always associated
with the seventh chakra.

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References :
(1) Preksha Dhyan : theory and practice—Acharya Mahapragya, Jain
Vishva Bharati, Ladnun (Raj.), edition 2003.
(2) Article by Manjari Bhatt, Yoga teacher and therapist—Yoga
Education centre, Ontario.
(3) Website—www.realbondmarketing.com
(4) Meditation and Yoga-Masahiro Oki, published by Oki Yoga
publication, Japan, first edition, 1978.
(5) Karma Yoga—Yogiraj Vethathiri Maharshi-Vethathiri
publications, Erode (T.N.), third edition, 1995.
(6) Yoga Praxis—Yoga Maharshi Swami Deva Murti, 1971-72,
International Yoga centre, Schloss Aubach, West Germany.

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